I had heard all types of stories about Åkesta
before I arrived, most of them negative or
skeptical. I was glad to find the rumors untrue.
Åkesta did have a very rough start,
but the residents have turned that around.
The initiative to build Åkesta was taken
in by a developer 1986. The project was supposed
to be complete for the 1990 building fair
being held in the city of Västerås.
The developer initially sought out a group
of interested persons to participate in the
planning and received over 200 inquiries.
An excited architect, full of ideas, was hired.
The trouble, however, started when the developer
realized they did not have time to incorporate
the architect’s or future residents’
novel ideas. The first architect’s sketches
were replaced by slightly modified blueprints
from a previous project. Costs spiraled and
the future residents felt excluded from the
entire process. Finances were shaky in the
first few years after building. The home owners
association considered declaring bankruptcy
and several families had to move. Eight years
later, the residents have the upper hand.
They have made a success out of what appeared
to be a catastrophe.